Family’s Firefighting Legacy Finds Permanent Home

GREENSBURG, Pa. — For a century, the Greensburg Fire Department Hose Company 3 has played a significant role in the life of Gilberta “Bert” McGill and her family.

A resident at Newhaven Court at Lindwood senior living community in Greensburg, McGill, 91, recently gifted the fire department’s museum with two very special rings in memory of her late husband, M. Robert McGill, and his late father, H. Brooks McGill.

Both men dedicated decades of service to the department originally known as Bunker Hill Hose Company No. 3 and earned the coveted “Bunker Hill” Life Member rings.

Bert McGill’s May 28 donation is both a tribute to her family’s deep firefighting roots and a way to ensure the rings remain part of the department’s history for future generations.

“My husband was into volunteering, no matter what,” Bert McGill said. “If he could help others, he would help. All the wives helped too. We raised money for the station however we could. Turkey dinners, spaghetti supper benefits, or we’d use boots to collect cash donations in the streets.”

Born and raised in Greensburg, Bert McGill has lifelong ties to the community. She was only 15 when she met her husband, Bob, at a church dance. Eventually, the couple married on Jan. 17, 1953. Their marriage lasted 70 years until Bob’s death at age 90 in July 2023. Together they raised five sons: Robert, Raymond, Michael, Ronald and Wayne. Ronald died last February.

With four sons surviving and only two rings to pass along, McGill said she felt the best home for the treasured keepsakes was the Greensburg Fire Department Museum.

“When people see these rings, I hope they’ll realize how important it is to volunteer,” Bert said. “I want people to know this is a family that liked helping others. What do I do with four sons and only two rings? This museum is where these rings belong.

“I want people to know that we need more volunteers,” she continued. “My family are a humble people. You ask and we will do the best we can. This should inspire more people to get involved with their community. We need more people like that.”

H. Brooks McGill joined Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Hose Company No. 3 on May 11, 1926, as a 23-year-old. The elder McGill remained a member for 47 years until his death in 1973.

M. Robert McGill, followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the company on May 10, 1955, also at age 23, and two years after his marriage to Bert.

Robert McGill served the department for 68 years. In addition to his firefighting service, he worked for 37 years at Westinghouse in Cheswick before retiring. Robert also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict from 1953 to 1954 and was active in numerous organizations, including the Pennsylvania State Firemen’s Association, the Westmoreland County Firemen’s Association and American Legion Post 515 in Latrobe.

The McGill family’s connection to Hose Company No. 3 mirrors the long history of the organization itself.

The Bunker Hill Hose Company was organized on July 6, 1894, with 26 charter members, according to the website www.gbgfire.com . Meetings were initially held in the Bunker Hill School House before the company opened its first hose house in December 1895.

Over the decades, the company evolved alongside advances in firefighting technology, operating a succession of fire engines and rescue apparatus while serving the residents of Greensburg, the website noted. The company’s current station at the corner of Grove and Alexander avenues was dedicated in 1954 and remains a vital part of the city’s fire protection network.

For McGill, her family’s rings symbolize more than years of service. They represent generations of dedication, sacrifice and community involvement by two men who devoted much of their lives to protecting their neighbors.

“This is truly a special donation,” said Michael Brandonio, Community Relations Director at Newhaven Court at Lindwood. “Life Member rings symbolize years of commitment, bravery and selflessness as volunteer firefighters. This brings a sense of pride and connection, reminding us all of the importance of giving back and supporting one another.”

The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Museum was established in 1969 at the old freight station behind Greensburg City Hall.

“In the military, we place great importance on honoring those who served before us,” said Carly Glasgow, Resident Wellness Director at Newhaven Court at Lindwood. “These rings symbolize years of dedication and selfless service. This donation ensures their legacy won’t be forgotten. For our Lindwood community, it’s a meaningful reminder of the sacrifices made to keep others safe.”

The museum includes antique fire trucks and equipment, artifacts from major fires in Greensburg and surrounding Westmoreland County communities, parade uniforms, dive team and bloodhound team memorabilia, and a Quecreek Mine Rescue display commemorating the July 2002 rescue of nine trapped coal miners in nearby Somerset County.

By donating the rings to the fire department museum, Bert McGill hopes the firefighters’ story will continue to be remembered alongside the history of Hose Company No. 3. Those rings also will help preserve a family legacy that has been intertwined with the department for 100 years.

For more information, contact, Michael Brandonio, Community Relations Director, Newhaven Court at Lindwood, at [email protected] or call 724.853.2505.